Serious cases will need stronger medicine, though not necessarily prescription strength. There are several classes of medicated shampoo available over-the-counter as well as from a dermatologist, and knowing the options might help you choose the formula which is best for you.

Selenium Sulfide is used in the popular brands Selsun Blue and Exsel, shampoos based on this compound are somewhat effective at fighting the fungus which causes dandruff. A caution to the fair-haired: this type of treatment may stain your hair.

Zinc Pyrithione is employed in well-known Head and Shoulders of the famous flake-dusting chain commercials, as well as Suave’s medicated line. Again, this formula has properties useful in containing the Malassezia yeast.

Ionil T, which is known chemically as salcylic acid, is another option whose chief drawback is that it often leaves the scalp desiccated and therefore prone to further symptoms. This can be ameliorated with the use of moisturizing conditioner after treatment.

Coal Tar, made from-you guessed it, coal-is the primary ingredient in Tegrin and Neutrogena T-Gel, helps put the brakes on out-of-control skin regrowth cycles and is shown effective at controlling a variety of skin disorders. The downside, again, includes the possibility of hair discoloration, susceptibility to sunburn, and an odor that many find unpleasant.

Nizoral, or Ketoconazole, is a recent and exciting weapon in the fight against dandruff that frequently cures tough cases other types of shampoo can’t budge. In both nonprescription strength and dermatologist-dispensed, Ketoconazole is a promising treatment for many intractable cases of fungal infection of the scalp.

Cutting Your Exposure

While not always preventable, several steps can lower your susceptibility to scalp flaking disorders. Here are a few simple steps you can take:

Moderate Sunlight: The Sun’s rays can be beneficial to the health of the scalp, but take care in overdoing it, as the UV rays are carcinogenic and you don’t want to trade a minor skin problem for a life-threatening one.

Hair Care: Regular shampooing is always a good idea, but watch out for other products, such as gels, dyes, and aerosol hair fixative, as these create an oily film which is prime breeding ground for the Malassezia fungus.

General health factors, such nutrition and nervous tension, can also contribute to the presence or absence of a scalp dysfunction. A balanced diet, complete with vitamins and minerals, can go a long way, and wherever possible, take a moment to smell the roses. Putting body, mind and spirit into balance allows your body to contain the fungal overgrowth which leads to dandruff.

]]> http://www.dandruff.info/dandruff/home-remedies-for-dandruff.html/feed http://www.dandruff.info/dandruff/the-truth-about-dandruff.html http://www.dandruff.info/dandruff/the-truth-about-dandruff.html#comments Mon, 02 Jun 2008 14:38:49 +0000 admin http://dandruff.info/?p=8 We all know how to recognize dandruff-those unmistakable oily white deposits which often bring unwanted and disapproving attention toward affected scalps. Most people associate the condition with poor hygiene and even social awkwardness, but those who suffer from dandruff know that it often requires heroic measures to overcome.

The greatest myth about dandruff is that the cause is unwashed hair, or, conversely, a lack of moisture in the environment. While a very similar flake sometimes results from an overly dry environment, true dandruff is caused by a fungal agent known as Malassezia.

A symptom rather than a disease, dandruff can cause low self-esteem and create social distance, but even daily showers are sometimes useless against dandruff. In fact, the wrong hair care products can exacerbate the problem…a fine reward for your grooming efforts!

Controlling and curing dandruff can be challenging, but fortunately, there are a wide a variety of topical treatments available. Choosing the right one for you will take a little trial and error and some education. While you may have to supply the first, we can certainly help with the second. Spend a few moments carefully absorbing the information on this site, and you’ll be ready to tackle the problem of dandruff with confidence and knowledge.

As in many other yeast-like maladies, Malassezia normally occurs on healthy heads, as well those afflicted by symptoms. As a lipophile, or fat-eater, Malassezia feeds on follicle oils when they are produced in excess. This in turn leads to both drying of the scalp and greasiness, as the hair glands produce even more oil to moisturize the scalp, only to have Malassezia consume it and grow. This rapidly becomes a vicious cycle causing unremitting dandruff and seborrhea.

Skin cells have a brief life cycle, surviving only 20-30 days from the moment of creation in the dermis. New cells are constantly replenished from below as older ones expire and produce the outer layers of the epidermis. Eventually, the skin breaks off onto shower towels and hairbrushes, barely noticeable because the process is so gradual.

When the balance is upset, however, Malassezia takes over, and the skin cells die much more quickly, often in under two weeks, causing flaking of the scalp. The dandruff particles are composed of these dead fragments of skin, glued together by globs of hair oil.

Researchers have not singled out a culprit for the syndrome, but it seems that Malassezia outbreaks are stimulated by environmental factors as well as endocrine imbalances, overproduction of oil glands, immune disorders, genetic predispositions, and complications of certain neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s, can all contribute to an overgrowth and the signs of dandruff.

Who is Susceptible?

Almost any grown person could be at risk for scalp disorders, but some demographics are more prone than others. Males between adolescence and middle age are the primary sufferers of Malassezia-related dandruff and other symptoms, chiefly due to the greater size of sebaceous oil glands, in this group. Considerable evidence connects the syndrome to the hormone testosterone, which appears in both genders at puberty, but in greater amounts in males.

As mentioned earlier, oily hair promotes growth of the Malassezia, so infrequent showering is definitely a factor. More mysterious is the connection with nerve diseases and stress disorders, but it seems that several types of conditions which compromise the immune system can create an imbalance. Among these are HIV/AIDS, heart attacks and strokes, as well as the aforementioned neurological dysfunctions.

Epidermal Desiccation-Flaking can be caused by environmental conditions, especially temperature extremes and indoor heating. This type of scaling can be distinguished from clinical dandruff, which tends to deposit greasier and larger flakes than simple dry skin produces.

Skin Reactions and Contact Dermatitis-Allergies and immune responses to cosmetic and hair care products sometimes trigger symptoms including scalp irritation and flaking.

Seborrheic Eczema-Also known Seborrhoeic Dermatitis, this affliction also leads to chronic dandruff on oily parts of the body, leaving flakes on the face as well the head. Often blamed on a fungal infection, this inflammation may have a variety of roots, including inherited and hormonal factors, and precipitate hair loss and redness as well as dandruff.

Neonatal (or Infantile) SD-Commonly called “cradle cap” or “milk crust” because it is found among infants, this type of Seborrheic Dermatitis seems to be a temporary, though unnerving, condition, which generally disappears as the child ages.

Tinea Capitis-Usually referred to as “scalp ringworm,” this infection spreads among older children and can be identified by the enlarged red bumps which accompany itching, flaking, and often hair loss. Again, the effects of this condition are not confined to the scalp, but often spreads to the brow and lashes of the eyes.

Psoriasis-Although it can often be startling and embarrassing, this type of skin disorder is not contagious, but can spread to cover large portions of the body with distinctive grey patches of cracked, dead skin. When Psoriasis attacks the scalp, it can leave flakes very similar to dandruff.